Monday, February 22, 2010

Preparing for Royal Servants Mission Team—2010“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” —Jesus

By the time you receive this letter Matt will be on the ground in Sierra Leone. Matt and his colleague Jeff Bell will be meeting with ministry partners, such as —Youth for Christ.

God has been using the Youth for Christ ministry to penetrate Sierra Leone with the Gospel for many years. We plan to visit orphanages, schools, hospitals, and the slums to meet with the key leaders who are helping to make a difference among the hurting and hopeless.

The Youth for Christ staff in Sierra Leone are looking forward to again partnering with us as we help meet many of the overwhelming needs in their communities. We will be spending time devising strategic ministry plans for our up and coming student mission team this summer.

As we have said before, Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world with a population that is 70% Muslim. There are also 12 people groups in Sierra Leone that are considered “unreached” —those who have little to no access to the gospel.

As you can imagine, we are sure to encounter difficult conditions as well as spiritual opposition.

Jeff (who lead the Sierra Leone mission team last year) said that his experience was unlike any other mission trip in his 20+ years of ministry. “The opportunity for the gospel to shine in Sierra Lone is unprecedented. They are so open and ripe to receive Jesus.”

Please pray for protection and safety for Matt and Jeff as they travel. Also pray for wisdom as they plan out their summer ministry.

Update on Matt and Jenni’s Support Development“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” -Phil. 4:19

As you know, we raise our financial support for 100% of our involvement in Reign Ministries. This year, we have been working hard to raise up some needed funds due to a short-fall in our support. God has been absolutely faithful to provide, as step by step he has honored our efforts to re-raise these lost funds.

This is a long and stretching process, but we are very encouraged by God’s provision through the people he has placed in our paths. So far we have raised over 50% of our monthly need to replace our short-fall of support. Praise God!

At the end of 2009, we needed to raise $15,000 in order to finish the year strong. I’m here to testify about God’s faithfulness as he completely provided for this need. Praise the Lord!

Words can not express our grateful hearts at how people have been receptive to the Lord when he has lead them to commit to our financial & prayer support team!

Please keep us in your prayers as we work diligently to raise the remaining monthly support in order to continue faithfully serving him!

The new 2010 Royal Servants brochure (one of Matt’s many projects) has gone out to thousands of students across the US and Canada. Our hope is that this brochure will encourage teenagers and college students to step out and serve on the mission field this summer.

Recently, at a Prayer Summit for the Zhuang unreached People group of China, we reconnected with Andrew. Andrew served amongst the Zhuong on the China Royal Servants team, and shared about his experience;

“My summer with Royal Servants changed my entire life. I am here to pray for the Zhuang today, and my hearts desire now is to serve long term. I am planning to sell everything, get Bible training and go to serve amongst whatever unreached people groups that God specifically leads me to.”

We are so encouraged to see God working powerfully. Please pray God would use this brochure to accomplish his purposes in students like Andrew.

Sierra LeonePray for Matt as he travels to Sierra Leone to set up ministry opportunities for the summer mission team. Pray for health, safety and protection. Also pray for solid relationships with our ministry contacts and for a good productive trip.ADOPTION!Our homestudy is almost complete. We hope to have our adoption “dossier” sent to Ethiopia within the next few months. Pray for God’s sovereign hand on this process as we take steps of faith to adopt a baby girl.

New Monthly Ministry PartnersWe praise God for new monthly supporters and are very encouraged by God faithfully meeting our needs. Pray for the on-going work to re-raise needed funds.

Brochure & RecruitingThis is our busiest recruiting season. Matt is working hard to contact interested students and respond to those pursuing our mission opportunities. Please pray for God to call the right students to join our teams!